Denny Hamlin emerged victorious in the EchoPark AutoTrader 400 on Sunday at Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware, overcoming a 56-minute rain delay and two intense overtime restarts to claim the win. The race concluded with Hamlin holding off his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe in a dramatic finish, marking his second consecutive win at the Dover concrete mile and his fourth NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2025 season.
Key Moments in Final Laps Define Hamlin’s Triumph
Hamlin’s race strategy and execution during the closing laps proved decisive, especially as he took the lead during pit stop rotations when Chase Elliott, who dominated much of the day, pitted for tires. Hamlin led the field just before the rain-enforced red flag halted the race with 15 laps remaining. Upon resumption, Hamlin capitalized on back-to-back overtime restarts by managing to get a jump ahead each time, ultimately holding off Briscoe’s challenge despite the latter running on fresher tires.
The final sprint to the checkered flag featured side-by-side racing between Hamlin and Briscoe, with their cars at times bumping slightly on the last lap. In the end, Hamlin’s No. 11 JGR Toyota Camry edged out Briscoe’s car by just 0.310 seconds. This win places Hamlin among only 13 drivers to have won consecutive races at Dover.
Quotes from the Race Winner and Close Competitors
Reflecting on the race, Hamlin said,
“Things were going pretty well there before the rain and then obviously had to endure a few restarts there. It was tough, those guys gave me a run for it, no doubt about it.”
He added,
“Winning here at Dover is super special to me. This is a place I had not been very good at the first half of my career and then to have back-to-back (wins) here the last couple years is amazing.”
Briscoe, who pushed Hamlin hard in the closing moments, remarked,
“I thought I did everything I needed to and thought I had it there for a second. I was so close to clearing him and just couldn’t do it. Obviously racing a teammate, I wanted to make sure at least a JGR car won. Honestly it was a great day. We weren’t probably a second place race car, we were probably fifth to 10th place car. Glad we were able to make a good finish out of it.”
Top Finishers and Championship Implications
Behind the JGR teammates, Hendrick Motorsports drivers Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson finished in third and fourth place respectively, with Ty Gibbs rounding out the top five, adding another strong showing for Joe Gibbs Racing. Chase Elliott, who led a race-high 238 laps and won the first stage, finished sixth after struggling to maintain position in the overtime laps. His effort, combined with teammate William Byron’s late-race accident, catapulted Elliott to a 17-point lead in the championship standings with only five races remaining in the regular season.
The remainder of the top 10 included Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, and Brad Keselowski. Meanwhile, the battle for the final playoff spots remains tight. Wallace gained a 16-point advantage over Ryan Preece for the 16th and final transfer position, and Kyle Busch, finishing 11th, dropped to 39 points behind Wallace.
In-Season Challenge Championship Battle Advances to Indianapolis
Sunday’s race also decided the finalists for the NASCAR Cup Series’ In-Season Challenge, a new incentive program with a $1 million prize. Ty Gibbs and Ty Dillon advanced to the final round at next week’s Brickyard 400, set for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Gibbs secured his spot by overtaking Tyler Reddick late in the race, while Dillon advanced after a fortunate pass on John Hunter Nemechek, with both drivers running close throughout the event.
Gibbs expressed his gratitude, stating,
“Super cool today, I really appreciate my team.”
Dillon shared his excitement, saying,
“All respect to John Hunter we ran next to each other all day. Just so grateful to have this opportunity and this is one of the greatest things to happen in my career.”
Next Up: The Prestigious Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis
Following this thrilling Dover event, the NASCAR Cup Series will head to the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400, scheduled for next Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. Kyle Larson will enter as the defending champion of the race, which remains one of the sport’s premier showcases. With the championship playoffs approaching, the action promises to be intense as drivers continue to jockey for position and momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How did Denny Hamlin get so rich?
A. Denny Hamlin started racing full-time in the Cup Series with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2006. Since then, he has had a remarkable career. He has achieved 51 wins in the Cup Series and won the Daytona 500 three times in 2016, 2019, and 2020. Over the years, he has also earned millions of dollars.
Q. Did Denny Hamlin and Jordan Fish get married?
A. Denny Hamlin is planning to marry Jordan Fish. She loved dancing since she was young, which led her to dance for the Charlotte Bobcats, now called the Charlotte Hornets. She first met Hamlin while performing at one of their games.
Q. How did Denny Hamlin get rich?
A. Denny Hamlin has built a net worth of about $65 million through his racing achievements, profitable sponsorships, and investments in real estate. He maintains success by excelling both as a driver and as a racing team owner.
Q. How is Denny Hamlin so rich?
A. Denny Hamlin’s net worth of $65 million comes from several sources. He has earned over $100 million from NASCAR contracts and prize money. He also has endorsements with companies like FedEx, Jordan Brand, and Toyota. Additionally, he co-owns 23XI Racing, a racing franchise worth more than $100 million.
